The Azerbaijan-Armenia Conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh Enclave
Context: Recently, Armenia’s Prime Minister and Azerbaijan’s President announced that their respective countries would be setting up border security and delimitation commissions, signalling a step towards resolution of a decades-long conflict over the Nagorno-Karabakh Enclave. Relevance: Prelims, GS-II: International Relations (Important Foreign Policies and Developments), GS-I Geography (Maps), GS-I: History (World History) Dimensions of the […]
Onset of Monsoon
Context: The southwest monsoon has arrived in Kerala three days before its normal onset date of June 1. As per the India Meteorological Department (IMD) records, this is only the fourth time since 2010 when the monsoon has arrived well ahead of its normal date. Relevance: GS I- Indian Geography Dimensions of the Article: What […]
How Are Sinkholes Formed?
Context: A cave exploration team has discovered an ancient forest at the bottom of a giant karst sinkhole in Leye County in south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Relevance: GS I- Geography Dimensions of the Article: About the Sinkhole in Leye County: How are sinkholes formed? Sinkholes in China and around the world About the […]
Urban Heat islands
Context: Several parts of the country are reeling under heat wave conditions. Cities, especially, are a lot hotter than rural areas. This is due to a phenomenon called an “urban heat island”. Recently, two areas in Delhi recorded temperatures close to 50 degrees Celsius. Relevance: GS I- Geography Dimensions of the Article: What is an urban […]
Tropical Cyclone Asani
Context: Severe cyclonic storm ‘Asani’, packing winds above 105 kmph and setting off heavy rain, is likely to make landfall on the eastern coast of India. Relevance: GS-I: Geography (Physical geography – Climatology, Important Geophysical phenomena), GS-III: Disaster Management Dimensions of the Article: What are Tropical Cyclones? Conditions for cyclone formation: How are Tropical Cyclones […]
La Nina And El Niño
Context: This year the La Nina is being blamed for worsening the longest spell of heatwaves from March to April in north, west and Central India. In most years, meteorologists considered the La Nina to be a friend of India. Relevance: GS-I: Geography (Climatology, Important Geophysical Phenomena), GS-III: Environment and Ecology (Environmental Pollution and Degradation, […]
Science Minister: “More cyclones in Arabian Sea in recent years”
Context: Science Minister said that the frequency of “very severe cyclonic storms” has increased in recent years over the Arabian Sea. Relevance: GS-I: Geography (Physical geography – Climatology, Important Geophysical phenomena), GS-III: Environment and Ecology (Impact of Climate Change), GS-III: Disaster Management Dimensions of the Article: Highlights of the Science Minister’s response on Cyclones Increasing […]
Cabinet clears Ken-Betwa river interlinking project
Context: The Union Cabinet approved the funding and implementation of the Ken-Betwa river interlinking project at a cost of ₹44,605 crore at the 2020-21 price level. The Centre would fund ₹39,317 crore for the project, with ₹36,290 crore as a grant and ₹3,027 crore as a loan. Relevance: GS-I: Geography (Drainage System in India, Projects […]
Indonesia’s Mount Semeru volcano erupts
Context: The eruption of the biggest mountain on the island of Java in Indonesia – Mount Semeru killed at least 14 persons and left dozens injured. Relevance: Prelims, GS-I: Geography (Physical geography, Volcanoes, Important Geophysical phenomena), GS-III: Disaster Management Dimensions of the Article: About Mount Semeru Stratovolcano About the Ring of Fire About Mount Semeru […]
Cyclone Jawad
Context: Cyclone Jawad has formed in the Bay of Bengal and is expected to reach Paradip, on the Odisha coast with winds expected to touch 90 kmph as well as heavy rains in Odisha, West Bengal, and north Andhra Pradesh. Relevance: Prelims, GS-I: Geography (Important Geophysical Phenomenon, Climatology), GS-III: Disaster Management Dimensions of the Article: […]